Bangla Pollution

[Alarico Boyett]

Thesite is secure.

The ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

This study has been conducted on an anthropogenically less influenced transboundary river (Atrai: Indo-Bangladesh) to comprehend the inherent geochemistry and identify potential elemental sources. In doing so, across the Bangladeshi portion, 30 river-bed samples were culled and studied by neutron activation analysis to quantify the abundances of 15 geochemically and toxicologically significant elementals (Na, Al, K, Ti, Cr, Mn, Co, Zn, As, Rb, Sb, Cs, Ba, Th, and U). The results revealed that the mean concentrations (μg/g) of Rb (154.6), Cs (7.53), Th (20.90), and U (4.88) were 1.5-2.0 times higher than crustal values. Besides, geo-environmental indices revealed 'uncontaminated to moderately contaminated' pollution status with minor enrichment or contamination for Rb, Th, Sb, U, and Cs, relatively concentrated in the mid-to-downstream zone possessed geogenic and non-crustal origins. The positive matrix factorization and other statistical approaches revealed predominant geogenic enrichment of Na, K, Al, Ti, Zn, Cs, Rb, As, Th, and U from differential mineralogical compositions via weathering, elemental fractionations, and biogeochemical mobilization. Contrariwise, several anthropogenic sources (for Cr, Sb, Co, Mn, Th) were also ascertained in the vicinity of Atari River. However, sediment characterization based on SQG threshold values manifested that Cr and Mn possess rare biological effects on local aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, SQGs-based and ecological risk indices invoked minor to no potential ecotoxicological intimidations for the considered metal(oid)s (Cr, Mn, Co, Zn, As, and Sb). Hence, this study manifested the usefulness of a less anthropogenically affected river to reckon geogenic and non-crustal elemental origins in the compounded riverine sediment.

[2] Population weighted average of PM2.5 concentrations across all districts of Dhaka and Chittagong was computed and converted into average life expectancy lost for the region as a whole using AQLI methodology. See methodology section at the end for more details.

The AQLI converts air pollution concentrations into their impact on life expectancy. From this, the public and policymakers alike can determine the benefits of air pollution policies in perhaps the most important measure that exists: longer lives.

The AQLI estimates the relationship between air pollution and life expectancy, allowing users to view the gain in life expectancy they could experience if their community met World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, national standards or some other standard.

As many as 65% of traffic policemen manning roads in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka are facing hearing and sleeping problems due to high noise levels in the city, according to a study done by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.

Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, who heads the Environmental Science Department at Stamford University Bangladesh, said that 80% of noise pollution in Dhaka originates from vehicles. He said even the areas declared sound pollution free by the government are decibels above permissible limits.

In recent years, Bangladesh has become one of the worst countries in the world for air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, Bangladesh is in the top 10 countries for concentrations of PM2.5, the harmful pollution particles in the air.

The emphasis on modernisation through industrialisation and construction has proved devastating for Bangladesh's air and the biggest causes of pollution are vehicle emissions, waste burning and toxic industrial emissions from concrete, steel and brick plants which are pumped into the air. Air pollution, both ambient and household, was an extremely high risk factor in the 572,600 deaths in 2018 from noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh, according to these WHO figures. According to one report, around 72% of national households in Bangladesh still use solid fuel for heating and cooking, which contributes heavily to air pollution.

Efforts by the government to tackle pollution have mostly been lacklustre and ineffective. In 2019, the government attempted to close down thousands of illegal brick-making kilns in the cities. A clean air bill has recently been drafted, which includes draconian punishments for illegal industrial operations who are big polluters, but has yet to be passed by parliament.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns in the last two years, there was some reduction in air pollution around the world. Closure of most physical economic activities, infrastructure construction, transportation, and educational institutions contributed to this change. However, as soon as world economies started opening up, pollution started to rise as well.

One way to control air pollution is to adopt the command-and-control approach, through which a government directly controls man-made pollution. In Bangladesh, this method has been adopted through various policies setting caps for pollution levels for the industries. For example, Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 was an important move towards environmental protection as it established the Department of Environment (DoE), which is empowered to take action against a polluting entity. This law was followed up with the formulation of the Environmental Conservation Rules, 1997, which determines the emission level of pollutants according to the nature of the industries. Another important step was enacting the environment court laws in 2000 and 2010 to take measures for offences related to environmental pollution. The other relevant policies include the National Environmental Policy, 2018, and Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) Act, 2013 (amended in 2021). Some sections of the Road Transport Act, 2018 also stipulate controlling motor vehicle emissions.

While all these are positive initiatives, their implementation is quite challenging in a country like Bangladesh. It is not uncommon that certain pressure groups always try to influence the regulatory bodies and get away with the crimes of polluting beyond the level set by the DoE. That is why we still see unfit vehicles on the road, or brick kilns operating in full capacity across the country. At times, it becomes a source of rent seeking.

The other instrument to curb air pollution is economic incentives through various fiscal measures, such as emission tax and liability payment for pollution. This approach makes the polluting entities pay for their actions. Interest subsidies on loans for purchasing emission treatment plants is also a market incentive for pollution control. The government earning from emission taxes can be used for the social protection of the poor and other social development activities. Here, the implementation-related problems arise again. In Bangladesh, in many cases, there are difficulties in getting relevant and correct information to determine tax on a polluting industry. Particularly, information on the actual income or profit is not often reported. Therefore, the tax imposed on a polluter may be lower than the actual cost created through harming the environment.

Both methods are difficult to be applied properly in Bangladesh due to weak governance and lack of resources. Moreover, how these will impact the poor and low-income groups should also be taken into consideration. Strict implementation of the environmental policies may reduce livelihood opportunities of the poor, who rely on nature to make a living. Therefore, while implementing environmental measures, fiscal policies must be crafted to provide social protection to the poor.

No matter where you live, you can be exposed to air pollution from vehicle exhaust, smoke, road dust, industrial emissions, pollen, gas-fueled yard equipment, chemicals we use in our homes, and other sources.

Both short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants can cause a variety of health problems. For people with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD/emphysema or chronic bronchitis), air pollution can make it harder to breathe, trigger asthma attacks, or cause wheezing and coughing. Air pollution also increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer, and more severely affects people who are already ill.

People who frequently breathe wood smoke are at risk for serious adverse health effects. Wood smoke contains wood tars, gases, and soot, as well as chemicals like carbon monoxide, dioxins, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particles.

Short-term exposure to fine particles in the air can aggravate lung disease, trigger asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and may also increase the risk of respiratory infections. Scientists have also linked short-term exposures to heart attacks and abnormal heartbeats. Over time, breathing fine particles in the air increases the chances of developing chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, cardiovascular disease, or lung cancer. In high concentrations, wood smoke can permanently damage lung tissue.

We tend to think of air pollution as something outside, but the air inside homes, offices, and other buildings can be more polluted than outdoor air. On average, Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often two to five times higher than outdoor concentrations. Moreover, people who are most susceptible to the effects of pollution (e.g., the very young, older adults, people with cardiovascular or respiratory disease) tend to spend even more time indoors.

Common indoor air pollutants include radon, smoke, and lead dust. Carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace, mold from damp walls, or volatile organic compounds from a newly painted room also contaminate indoor air. Pollutants such as fine particles from candles or fireplaces (or from the outdoors) also affect our health.

3a8082e126